Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) on Monday doubled down on his previous assertions that Vice President Kamala Harris was hired with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), blasting her the day after she became the leading contender for the Democratic nomination following President Biden’s historic withdrawal from the race.
“Washington incompetence is at an all-time high. The media propped up this president, lied to the American people for three years, and then demoted him to DEI Vice President,” Burchett wrote. Post to social platform Xfeaturing an earlier interview with NewsNation.
Tennessee Republicans reiterated those comments on Capitol Hill on Monday. CNN’s Manu RajuHe argued that former President Trump would perform better if Harris became the Democratic Party’s top candidate.
“Biden said he was going to hire a black woman as his vice president,” Burchett said. “What about a white woman? What about some other group? And when you go down that path, you end up with a mediocre choice, and that’s who they have now as their vice president.”
Burchett was then asked directly whether she thought Harris was a DEI hire.
“She’s definitely a DEI recruit,” he replied.
This is not the first time Burchett has suggested Harris was chosen as Biden’s running mate because of her racial and gender identity.
“Listening to her talk, I’m scratching my head and thinking, this is what DEI is really about,” Burchett said in an interview. Newsmax Earlier this month.
“Obviously, she fits all the criteria. One day she says she’s Indian, the next she says she’s black. She just fits the criteria.”
The Tennessee Republican also criticized DEI policies during a House hearing on Monday, where Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was grilled by lawmakers from both parties about the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Burchett, along with several of her Republican colleagues, has called for Cheatle’s resignation and has previously attacked the department’s top brass and made explicit criticisms of her gender over DEI efforts.
“Ma’am, you are a horrible story for DEI,” Burchett told Cheatle. “I have told my daughter many times … that she will be successful in life. She will be successful in life by achieving. Ma’am, you did not achieve today. You have let the American people down.”
Cheatle has been director for just under two years, but he has served with the Secret Service for nearly three decades, including as special agent in charge of the Atlanta field office and deputy director of security operations.
In the wake of Trump’s shooting, Cheatle came under fire from conservatives who argued, without evidence, that the agents were underqualified and only hired because of DEI policies.
The Secret Service Hired female agents Cheatle is only the second woman to lead the agency in more than 50 years. CBS NewsShe set a goal of having 30 percent of employees be women by 2030.
Following Burchett’s comments, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) grilled Cheatle about what led to the assassination attempt on Trump.
“Was the incident on July 13 the result of DEI or was it the result of systemic failures in communication and safety protocols?” Crockett asked.
“The incident on the 13th has absolutely nothing to do with DEI,” Cheatle said. “The incident on the 13th has to do with a failure or gap in planning or communication.”
